Brooks Running Achieves Revenue Record
In a big announcement splashed over many outlets, Brooks Running reported late last month that it had surpassed $1 billion in global revenue year-to-date through September, marking the first time the running brand has hit the major milestone prior to the start of its fourth quarter. Success over this horizon was driven by growth across all regions and channels, including a 10 percent year-over-year increase in North America, where its e-commerce channel grew 16 percent. 
“The Brooks team continues to execute at the highest level for customers and runners around the world,” says Dan Sheridan, Brooks CEO. “We’ve remained firmly anchored in delivering the very best performance running gear and experiences for those seeking it, regardless of where they choose to shop or engage with our brand. At the same time, every day we aim to meet more people and introduce them to what Brooks is all about so they think of us the next time they’re looking for a product to trust to move them through their days.”
Brooks held half of the top 10 shoe styles at U.S. specialty retail for the fourth consecutive quarter with continued strong demand for the Ghost, Glycerin, Glycerin GTS, Adrenaline GTS, and Ghost Max. In September, Brooks posted more than 22 percent year-over-year footwear revenue growth in this channel and outpaced the total market, which grew 7.9 percent.
Among core runners globally, Brooks was again voted the top brand for both Training and Race Running Shoe categories as reported in the recently released 2024 Running USA Global Runner Survey. In each category, Brooks was listed as the top choice by more than 20 percent of the 7400 survey participants, 90 percent of whom run at least three times per week.
Starting in September, Brooks activated a global launch of the all-new Glycerin Max, offering a high stack midsole featuring groundbreaking DNA Tuned, the next generation of nitrogen-infused foam created with a tuned dual-cell technique. With maximum cushioning for protection where you need it and GlideRoll Rocker technology for transitions, the highly anticipated shoe redefines a run experience that is both soft and springy. On its launch day in China, Glycerin Max was the No. 1 shoe sold on Tmall, China’s largest online retailer, while in the U.S. specialty channel, the $200 shoe gained a full point of market share during launch week.
In the U.S., Brooks announced new partnerships aimed to introduce its brand to more people interested in performance gear. In the brand’s global headquarters city of Seattle, Brooks became the Official Off-Ice Performance Partner of the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken. Brooks will provide players, coaches, and staff with running footwear and apparel, and in future seasons, Brooks will create custom off-ice Kraken gear for runners and fans alike.
In August, Brooks launched a collaboration with Extra Butter, the go-to streetwear destination in New York City’s Lower East Side, featuring exclusive designs of the Brooks Cascadia 18 sneakers. Earlier last month, runDisney announced a multi-year partnership naming Brooks the official running shoe of its popular runDisney race series. Starting in 2025, Brooks will offer limited-edition themed footwear, official race tops, and more to runDisney participants, Club runDisney members, and Disney fans.
Kane Debuts Revive AC
Three years after it it released the Kane Revive, its first and only flagship product, in 2021, Kane Footwear this month debut the Kane Revive AC (AC = All Conditions), an evolution of the Kane Revive that is cold weather-ready. The Kane Revive AC utilizes the same Kane active recovery features and styling cues with added durability and cold weather considerations.
The Kane Revive AC features:
• Rubberized outsole for all condition traction with a Kane leaf logo repeat tread pattern.
• Sewn-in Neoprene collar to lock in warmth and keep out elements.
• Nylon tabs at front and back for easy on with reflective detailing on front tab for improved visibility in low-light and poor weather conditions.
• Same upper and midsole as the Kane Revive with the same active recovery features.
• Debossed hole pattern on upper to keep out poor weather.
Roll Recovery Launches Superplush Recovery Footwear Collection
Roll Recovery, the maker of deep tissue massage therapy, recently launched its Superplush Recovery Footwear collection. The full lineup offers a performance recovery shoe, slide and flip-flop style in an array of colorways.
Its proprietary Superplush foam midsole, composed of algae and EVA with Bloom foam technology – a premium and sustainable foam that reduces carbon footprint and petroleum use – is the foundation of the line. This midsole offers the optimal ratio of cushioning and support to help athletes throughout the many hours of the day that do not involve active training.
With flip-flops and slides are coming soon, the collection debuts with the Supperplush Classic closed-toe shoe featuring Orthofit support for arch and midfoot comfort. Its upper consists of Roll Recovery’s proprietary Airyarn mesh made of recycled PET sourced from ocean plastics. This lightweight, high-stretch yarn offers breathability and comfort. Each style is designed with sizing considerations for men and women that support the structural differences of the foot, weight distribution and required support.
The footwear was designed and developed by Jeremy Nelson, Roll Recovery’s co-founder and engineer.
“The Superplush line was created to be a refuge for tired feet and promote overall foot health,” explains Nelson. “We realized most footwear is designed for looks and not foot health. Too tight and restricting with performance footwear. Too soft, squishy, and unsupportive with recovery footwear currently on the market. So after performing extensive research and design the Superplush line was born."
Footwear Brands Collaborate With Carbios For Recycled Tee
Back in mid- 2022, On, Patagonia, Puma, Salomon and LVHM joined forces with French biochemical company Carbios to use its biorecycling technology for synthetic fiber recycling, improving their products’ recyclability and ongoing reusability. The result of the collaboration: Carbios has developed the first garment manufactured from 100 percent textile waste in a biological recycling process — a white T-shirt created from colored and mixed textile waste.
Using Carbios’ biorecycling technology, the polyester was broken down using enzymes into its fundamental building blocks to produce biorecycled polyester. The quality of the recycled textiles is on par with oil-based virgin polyester.
“It may look like an ordinary T-shirt, but make no mistake the technology behind it is extraordinary,” explains Carbios CEO Emmanuel Ladent. “To achieve fiber-to-fiber recycling is a technological feat. Carbios couldn’t have done it alone, so thanks to the collaboration with our consortium partners, we have overcome many technical hurdles together to produce the world’s first enzymatically recycled t-shirt made entirely from biorecycled fibers.”
“Puma’s wish is to have 100 percent of our polyester coming from textile waste … this is an important milestone towards achieving this and making our industry more circular,” adds Anne-Laure Descours, chief sourcing officer at Puma. “We now need to work together to make sure we can scale up this technology to make the largest possible impact.”
Mammut Taps Kaplan as Managing Director
Mammut Sports Group, the Swiss clothing and equipment manufacturer for alpine sports, has hired Matt Kaplan as managing director for North America, effective November 18, 2024. In his new role, Kaplan will oversee business operations in the U.S. and Canada.
The company says that Kaplan’s expertise in sales leadership, strategic business development and market expansion within the outdoor and action sports sectors will be “instrumental in propelling Mammut’s growth in North America, an area that is at the heart of the global brand’s strategic focus.”
Most recently, Kaplan was VP–sales at Vail Resorts. He has also held leadership positions at the Outdoor Industry Association, Timberland, Ibex and Suunto North America under the Amer Sports collection of brands
Kaplan replaces Kris Kuster who, according to the company, is leaving to “explore new opportunities outside of Mammut, for which we wish him the best of luck and success.”
On Opens Stores in New York and Chicago
On recently opened flagship stores in Chicago and New York City, bringing its store count in North America to eight.
On opened its latest store in the Flatiron district in Manhattan with a footprint of 4596-square feet, making it its largest store in the city. Housed in a registered 1930s landmark building, the company renovated the space to retain certain original architectural elements (columns and moldings) while integrating Swiss-inspired features. Expansive windows offer prime visibility for brand marketing, and nature-inspired detailing inside reflects the city’s urban landscape.
The Chicago store on Rush Street measures 4553-square feet and opened during the Chicago Marathon. The interior design, with open gray ceiling, colorful walls and wood accents are inspired by the city’s iconic bridges, pays homage to the city’s industrial and design history.
“These flagship stores are a testament to On’s growth in the Americas and we couldn’t be more excited to expand our brand presence in two iconic cities,” explains Dan Schade, general manager of On Americas. “These spaces are more than just stores — they’re where the full expression of the On brand comes to life, embodying everything we stand for premium design, high performance and sustainability, tailored to meet the needs of our customers and foster community in each market.”
The company also opened a store earlier this fall in Austin, TX. Its other U.S. store locations include two in New York City (SoHo and Williamsburg, a neighborhood in Brooklyn), Los Angeles, Miami, and Portland. On stores in Europe are in Paris, Zürich, London, Berlin, and Milan.
Wolverine World Wide has appointed Susie Kuhn as president
Wolverine World Wide has appointed Susie Kuhn as president of its Active Group, which includes the Merrell, Saucony and Chaco brands. Kuhn will be responsible for leading brand strategies, executing consumer-focused go-to-market plans and driving commercial performance for the Active Group.
Kuhn brings more than 25 years of global brand-building experience in the footwear, apparel and retail industries – including senior leadership roles at Foot Locker, Nike, Converse and Urban Outfitters. Her experience spans a variety of disciplines, ranging from global brand-building to wholesale, direct-to-consumer, merchandising, product design and development, and marketing. She most recently served as Foot Locker’s President of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, where she had full responsibility for brand strategy and operational performance.
The Collective – the company’s recently created center-of-excellence – will also report into Kuhn. She will report directly to Chris Hufnagel, president and CEO of Wolverine Worldwide, and serve on the company’s Executive Team.
Carbitex Closes Funding Round for Next Growth Phase
Carbitex, a leader in flexible carbon fiber composites, recently closed a new funding round, marking the culmination of a two-year effort to restructure the company. With five times sales growth projected in 2025, Carbitex is set to strategically expand global market presence.
The majority of the capital comes from longtime investors, including Michael Marks, Carbitex’s executive chairman. Marks, with 40 years of experience leading and transforming technology companies, including Flextronics and Tesla, is currently a founding managing partner at Celesta Capital and has served as a board director for over 20 companies.
“Carbitex has made significant progress, assembling a capable team and laying a solid foundation for future growth,” says Marks. “I’m impressed by their progress and confident the company is set for an exciting future.”
After returning to an operational role as Carbitex’s President in 2023, founder Junus Khan led the company’s restructuring, including the appointment of Patrick Sinner to VP–brand product development in 2023, and Filippo Sartor to VP–global sales and Sam Gardner to VP–engineering and operations earlier this year.
“I’m proud of what our team has accomplished,” says Khan. “We’ve tackled hard challenges head-on and built a stronger, more agile Carbitex. This investment positions us to take the next step, and I’m excited about the breakthroughs we have in store that will push the boundaries of performance footwear and advanced materials.”
Carbitex’s patented materials are integrated across multiple footwear categories including run, cycling, soccer, watersports, snowboard, and, most recently, golf. The company partners with shoe brands such as Altra, Speedland, Lake, Scott, PAYNTR Golf and FootJoy, as well as bag and accessory brands Tumi, Pitaka and Porsche Design.
Velous Receives APMA Seal of Acceptance on Sandal Line
Velous Footwear, the maker of recovery footwear, recently was awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance for its line of sandal products.
The APMA Seal of Acceptance and Seal of Approval is granted to products found to promote good foot health. To earn the seal, each product is reviewed and tested by a group of APMA podiatrists to ensure it promotes foot health. The committee also looks at information on the product’s safety, quality control, and other data.
“Achieving the APMA Seal of Acceptance is a true testament to the core of ideology and brand identity at Velous,” says said Tim Bartels, CEO and co-founder. “We prioritize foot health in every design and create footwear that promotes recovery for athletes and active individuals alike.”
Velous Footwear’s sandals incorporate the company’s patent-pending Tri-Motion technology and proprietary triple-density Foamotion Formula foam to provide what feet need at each part of the foot strike motion, from supportive heel contact and arch support through toe-off to the next step.
Turtle Fur Rebrands With Step Outside Your Shell Platform
Outdoor headwear and accessories brand Turtle Fur recently launched a new brand platform, positioning itself as a symbol of protection and inspiration for every adventure. Calling on its community to “Step Outside Your Shell,” Turtle Fur celebrates its roots of moxie, grit, curiosity, adventure, and kinship in the outdoors.
“Our new platform weaves together our heritage with our future,” explains Erika Canfield, VP–marketing at Turtle Fur. “We’re committed to providing what you need for outdoor adventures – warmth, comfort, protection from elements, exceptional fit and feel – while appreciating the moxie it takes to embrace the journey.”
Turtle Fur’s new logo encompasses the values and visions behind the updated platform. The turtle’s shell represents protection from elements, a source of comfort, and a sense of belonging the brand provides in both product and social support. It also serves as a reminder to “step outside your shell” to grow and thrive. A hidden sun in the logo’s negative space symbolizes Turtle Fur’s connection to outdoor adventures. The yellow hue pays tribute to the brand’s roots, inspired by founder Millie Merril’s original store, the Yellow Turtle.
Turtle Fur also hopes to serve as a beacon of inspiration by embarking on a new chapter after 42 years in business. From their roots in ski culture, the brand now extends their reach beyond the slopes to all outdoor environments like trails, rocks and riversides. Turtle Fur’s new branding reflects the expansion into uncharted territory and represents the brand’s efforts to step outside its own shell.
